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Yesterday more than 1500 people joined together with us at Temple Emanuel in New York City to celebrate the love of three Israeli couples denied the right to marry in their own way in their own country. One was denied for being a same sex union, one for being a reform convert, and another for having the conviction to say no to the ultra-Orthodox monopoly on marriage in Israel. The couples’ vows express the importance and meaning of this event more eloquently than we can. Ori Berwald Shaer said: “I know that in 40 or 50 years, we will [...]

Support Marriage Equality in IsraelMeet Alon and Gali.They were both born in Israel. They met at the Reform kibbutz - Yahel - during a program combining work and Tora. Gali is currently studying for her master's degree in Jewish education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and works for the Reform movement as the Directof of Young Adult Programming. Alon is an analyst in the capital market in the field of high-tech and renewable energy. They are members of a Reform community in Tel Aviv.Many couples in Israel choose to get married abroad. Not because they can't legally marry in [...]

Rabbi Gilad Kariv, IMPJ President and CEO, responds to Deputy Minister Hotovely's damaging comments about Diaspora Jewry. “The nice words of the Prime Minister are not enough, Tzipi Hotovely, the Deputy Minister, cannot continue to be the public face of the State of Israel in Jewish communities around the world and we expect the Prime Minister to release the Deputy Minister from her duty.” Responding to Likud spokesperson calling Hotovely’s comments a mistake Rabbi Kariv said “We are not talking about mistakes, we are talking about philosophies, we are talking about political attitude and unfortunately I need to say that [...]

i24 News in Israel last night interviewed Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely in which she made some damaging comments about Diaspora Jewry and in particular Reform and Conservative Jews which can be viewed here http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/160947-171122-israeli-minister-most-us-jews-don-t-send-their-kids-to-fight-for-their-country. This morning Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned her comments. Rabbi Gilad Kariv, President and CEO of the Reform Movement: "The scandalous words of the Deputy Minister were not said in a vacuum, but as a direct continuation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's abusive conduct towards Diaspora Jewry. We welcome the Prime Minister's belated condemnation of Deputy Minister Hotovely's words, but the time has come for [...]

The head of Israel's most vile hate group will finally face justice. Last week, Israel's Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, finally decided to respond to our petition against Bentzi Gopstein, the leader of Lehava, by deciding to indict him on the charges of incitement to terrorism, violence, and racism, as well as obstruction of justice. For the past eight years, we have been collecting data and fighting Bentzi Gopstein and Lehava. Lehava, which literally means flame, is one of the most dangerous organizations in Israel. It operates under the false pretense of preventing assimilation and "protecting the daughters of Israel" [...]